Crofting community heritage centre in Lewis set for 2025 opening

The Garrabost Mill Trust (GMT) was created to preserve the mill site, other buildings and items of historical interest. 

The Trust received funding of £83,000 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), matched by community-owned wind farm charity, Point and Sandwick Trust (PST) to refurbish and develop the building.  

The mill came into community ownership in January 2023 and has since undergone significant work with re-roofing, improved access, safeguarding the buildings and improvements to the site at large.

Garrabost Mill Trust Chairman, Calum Graham, said:

“Garrabost Mill Trust have plans to develop the whole site as a crofting community heritage centre, building on the significant structural preservation and development work that has been completed to date. The core purpose of our work in developing a heritage centre is to provide an illustrative and informative account of the lived experience of crofting, fishing, weaving, industrial enterprises, military and Merchant Navy service, and other activities, here in Garrabost.

"All such activities have been part and parcel of everyday life through the ages in this community as a crofting township in the Western Isles. We want to to deliver an exciting, informative experience to visitors. 

"Without the commitment of PST and its initial financial input, the purchase of the Mill and its outbuildings by Garrabost Mill Trust would not have been remotely possible. The additional funding from PST and HIE to date has been vital to our delivering of the project, and we remain grateful to all our funders for their support. Without the support and commitment of PST, this exciting project would not have been feasible."

Natalie Campbell, Head of Enterprise Support at HIE, said, “This project is a great example of community-driven tourism, deeply rooted in crofting and local cultural heritage. The initial phase, which we were delighted to support, successfully transformed the external appearance of the mill and its outbuildings and the results are impressive.

“This second phase aims to enhance the site’s readiness to welcome visitors. It’s a tremendous initiative that will create jobs and preserve historic buildings in a community where Gaelic is an integral part of daily life. We are looking forward to seeing the project taking shape.”

The Garrabost Mill was in commercial operation, milling barley and oatmeal for local crofting communities between 1893 and 1956 and, once fully restored, will offer a unique insight into the lives of the crofting community in Lewis.   

The completed site will include visitor access to the restored mill, its operational mill wheel and meal drying floor, with dedicated artwork and visual content reflecting the history of the mill, crofting and early industrial activity in the area.  The outbuildings, built from original Garrabost brick have also been restored and will house, among other items, an operational tweed loom, a working model T Ford.

A commitment totalling £660,686 has been made to the restoration works including the latest funding of £83,137 respectively from HIE and PST. Other funders include Architectural Heritage Fund, Crown Estates Funding and Third Sector Hebrides via Landfill grant. 

Ionad Dualchas Croitearachd ann an Leòdhas air cùrsa airson fosgladh ann an 2025

Tha Muileann Gharrabost 130 bliadhna a dh’aois agus a-nis a’ tighinn gu ìre dheatamach den phròiseact ath-ùrachaidh agus leasachaidh, le obair a’ gluasad bho dìon na togalaichean gu cruthachadh ionad dualchas poballach, an dà chuid airson daoine ionadail agus luchd-turais.

Tha togalaichean agus làrach a’ Mhuileann fo shealbh Urras Muileann Gharrabost (UMG), buidheann carthannach a chaidh a stèidheachadh an toiseach airson làrach a’ Mhuileann a ghlèidheadh, a thuilleadh air togalaichean eile ann Garrabost agus rudan de dh’ùidh eachdraidheil. Tha an t-Urras air tuilleadh maoineachadh fhaighinn o chionn ghoirid, le £83,000 bho Iomairt na Gàidhealtachd is nan Eilean (IGE), agus am maoineachadh sin air a mhaidseadh leis a’ charthannas tuathanas-gaoithe coimhearsnachd, Urras an Rubha agus Shanndabhaig (URS).

Thuirt cathraiche Urras Muileann Gharrabost, Calum Greumach: “Tha planaichean aig Urras Muileann Gharrabost airson an làrach gu lèir a leasachadh mar ionad dualchas coimhearsnachd croitearachd, a’ togail air an obair glèidheadh agus leasachaidh a chaidh a dhèanamh gu ruige seo. ’S e prìomh amas na h-obair againn le bhith a’ leasachadh ionad dualchas gun tabhair sinn iomradh fiosrachail agus mìneachail air beath-eòlas croitearachd, iasgach, breabadaireachd, gnìomhachas, seirbhis san arm agus a’ Chabhlach Marsanta, agus gnìomhan eile, an seo ann an Garrabost. Tha a h-uile gnìomh sin air a bhith nam pàirt de bheatha làitheil anns a’ choimhearsnachd mar bhaile croitearach anns na h-Eileanan an Iar. Tha sinn ag amas air taisbeanadh fiosrachail agus brosnachail a lìbhrigeadh do luchd-tadhal, an dà chuid daoine ionadail agus luchd-turais.”

Thuirt e cuideachd: “Às aonais a’ ghealltanas bho URS agus an t-airgead tùsail aca, cha bhiodh e comasach idir dhuinn am Muileann agus na togalaichean eile a cheannachd. Tha am maoineachadh a bharrachd bho URS agus IGE air a bhith deatamach airson lìbhrigeadh a’ phròiseact, agus tha sinn gu math taingeil do ar maoineacharan airson an taic aca. Às aonais an taic agus gealltanas bho URS, cha bhiodh am pròiseact brosnachail seo comasach idir.”

Chaidh am muileann 19mh linn a-steach a shealbhachd coimhearsnachd anns an Fhaoilleach 2023, agus bhon uair sin chaidh obair mòr a dhèanamh le ath-mhullachadh, leasachadh-inntrigidh, dìon na togalaichean agus leasachadh don làrach anns an fharsaingeachd.

Thuirt Natalie Caimbeul, Ceannard Taic Iomairt aig IGE: “’S e eisimpleir mìorbhaileach a th’anns a’ phròiseact seo de thurasachd air a stiùireadh le coimhearsnachdan, stèidhichte gu mòr ann an croitearachd agus dualchas cultarail ionadail. Bha sinn gu math toilichte taic a thoirt don ìre tùsail, a bha soirbheachail ann a bhith a’ leasachadh cruth taobh-a-muigh a’ mhuileann agus na togalaichean a-muigh, agus tha na toraidhean math dha rìribh.

“Tha an dàrna ìre seo ag amas air an làrach a dhèanamh deiseil airson fàilte a chuir air luchd-tadhal. ’S e iomairt iongantach a th’ann, a chruthaicheas obraichean agus a’ ghlèidheas togalaichean eachdraidheil ann an coimhearsnachd far a bheil Gàidhlig na phàirt bunaiteach de bheatha làitheil. Tha sinn a’ coimhead air adhart ris a’ phròiseact fhaicinn a’ tighinn ri chèile.

Bha Muileann Gharrabost ag obair gu marsantachd air eòrna agus coirce airson coimhearsnachdan croitearachd ionadail eadar 1893 agus 1956, agus nuair a tha e air ath-ùrachadh gu lèir, bheir e sealladh sònraichte air beathan dhaoine ann an Leòdhas. Bidh iomadh goireas aig an làrach nuair a tha e deiseil, mar inntrigeadh luchd-tadhal don mhuileann ath-ùraichte, an roth-muilinn agus an lann-tìoraidh, le ealan agus taisbeanadh-sùla a’ sealltainn eachdraidh a’ mhuileann, croitearachd, agus gnìomhachas tràth anns an sgìre. Tha na togalaichean a-muigh, air an togail le breigeachan Gharrabost tùsail, cuideachd air an ath-ùrachadh, agus nam broinn bidh rudan mar beart-clòimhe agus Ford Modail T obrachail.

Chaidh gealladh de £660,686 gu lèir a dhèanamh airson an obair ath-ùrachaidh, a’ gabhail a-steach am maoineachadh as ùra de £83,137 bho IGE agus URS. Am measg maoineacharan eile tha an t-Ionmhas Dualchas Ailtireach, Maoineachadh Oighreachd a’ Chrùn, agus Third Sector Hebrides tron tabhartas Landfill.